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Former Stanford University and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck broke his silence on his official return to football following his hire as the general manager of his alma mater's football program during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show Tuesday (December 3).
Luck said he returned to Palo Alto to pursue his master's degree in education two years prior and, while he was previously undecided on his next venture, he claims he knew "the roads probably ran back through Stanford."
"Frankly, I had a meeting with the president of the university on some stuff on athletics, I've been volunteering and helping out, volunteer coaching high school football across the road at Palo Alto High School, the Vikings, and sitting with the president, and I think through the course of the conversation, through the course of some of his conversations with other folks in the athletic department around the university, realize that this probably made sense and it did make sense," Luck said. "When I was asked I didn't hesitate. I love Stanford, I love Stanford football, I'm a product of this place, I believe in this place, I believe in the pursuit of competitive excellence across the board in academics, athletics, socially and I'm happy to be apart of it now officially."
Luck announced his sudden retirement at the age of 29 days before the 2019 season. The former No. 1 overall pick was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (2012-14, 2018) and finished his NFL career with a 53-33 record as a starter and 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions on 2,000 of 3,290 passing (60.8% completions), as well as 1,590 yards and 14 touchdowns on 332 rushing attempts.
"When I retired from the NFL, and I think I've noticed in talking to other folks who've retired, I think no matter whatever the circumstance is it's difficult," Luck told Patrick on Tuesday. "Whether it's after college, after a short career, after a long career, it's a difficult and challenging process and there was a grieving period and a grieving period because a part of my identity died and that part of me was a football player and that was huge huge part of me.
"Certainly, I was more than just a football player just like everybody out there. You're more than just the host of the Dan Patrick Show, the illustrious Dan Patrick Show, but there was a grieving period and, of course, life goes on and daughters and family and other things begin to fill that void but you have to fill that void with something positive."